Multi-function steam iron

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a self-cleaning steam iron with means to purge the iron through the soleplate by providing a substantially separate large opening in the iron&#39;&#39;s water tank with a dump valve so the water can be suddenly dumped onto the hot soleplate. With the additional steam suddenly generated, the entire tank, steam distribution system, and ports are completely and forcefully purged of water, steam, loose residues, and entrapped lint. An additional function to this self-cleaning combination uses the same structure with a separate steam knob to actuate the dumping structure separately and in pulses to provide a surge of steam through the soleplate upon actuation. The same knob, on continuous actuation, converts the iron into a dry iron. Thus, common structure provides a multi-function steam iron.

[451 Apr. 2 19735 ABSTRACT l MULTli-IFUNCTIIDN STEAM TRON lflvemori Harold Ontario, Calif- The invention is directed to a self-cleaning steam iron with means to purge the iron through the soleplate by providing a substantially separate large opening in the [73] Assignee: General Electric Company, Bridgeport,Conn.

irons water tank with a dump valve so the water can Filedi y 1972 be suddenly dumped onto the hot soleplate. With the [21] additional steam suddenly generated, the entire tank,

pp NO 58 steam distribution system, and ports are completely and forcefully purged of water, steam, loose residues,

52 User...

lint.

, separate steam knob to actuate the dumping structure separately and in pulses to provide a surge of steam [58] Field of Search....................38/77. l

through the soleplate upon actuation. The same knob,

[56] References Cited on continuous actuation, converts the iron into a dry iron. Thus, common structure provides a multi-function steam iron.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,606,691 Davidson et al.......................38/77.5 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,691,660 Gronwick et al. ...................38/77.83

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Atl0mey-Lawrence R. Kempton et a].

MULTll-FUNCTION STEAM IRON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention herein pertains to a multi-function steam iron and, more particularly, to a self-cleaning steam iron using a substantially and separate large opening in the internal water tank with a valve control so the tank may be suddenly emptied and the resultant gush of water and steam completely purges the iron. The same structure is also utilized by a separate control to provide intermittent or pulsing dumping of the water tank to provide an extra volume or surge of steam as required or to convert the iron to dry ironing.

2. Description of the Prior Art With the advent of irons using water for either steam or spray purposes or both, it is customary to provide a water tank above the soleplate and use a water valve to provide controlled and metered water drippage into a steam boiler where it flashes to steam and is directed out ports in the soleplate to steam the article. This is known as the flash boiler steam iron and is typical of most steam irons today. Additionally, powered spray attachments, either steam or manual, have been added to such irons to supply a fine spray from the water tank to spray onto the garment. Generally, distilled water is used in such steam irons because of the fineness of the various water passages and orifices which are subject to clogging due to mineral deposits from the water which vary from one locality to another. Also, the steam ports in the soleplate tend to collect lint from the ironing operation and some of this may subsequently find its way into the internal passage structure when the iron is upended and not in use. In hard water localities, the tap water contains minerals which produce loose flakes and deposits that plate out on the iron components and clog the passages. Various means such as screens have been used to remove the impurities that are in flake form but eventually the screens plug up. Some constructions provide brushes or other cleaning implements to partially free the passages of obstructions but these require removal of plugs or the equivalent as well as the additional time and scrubbing action necessary on the part of the user. Irons have also appeared which provide means for an extra volume of steam beyond that for the normal ironing operation whereby a sudden puff or surge of steam may be generated by suitable mechanism. Prior art constructions have not provided a self-cleaning iron wherein the entire tank and passages may be completely cleaned by blowing out all the impurities in a simple operation to completely purge the iron and, at the same time, to use the same self-cleaning structure to provide an extra surge of steam as well as control of the steam generating feature itself whereby a multi-function steam iron is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the invention is directed to a steam iron with a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein and which uses an on-and-off water valve to control a metered flow of water from the tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to act as a flash boiler and generate steam. In such an iron, which may or may not include a spray, the invention provides an improvement in means to completely and forcefully purge the iron through the soleplate. This includes a separate substantially large opening in the water tank spaced from and operable independently of the metering orifice and communicating directly with the inner and preferably hottest surface of the soleplate. The large opening is valve-controlled by separately operable dump means on the iron handle so that the tank water can be suddenly dumped directly onto the hot soleplate to bypass the orifice and empty the tank rapidly through the soleplate ports. Additional known structure to seal off the fill hole and close the interior of the iron to ambient pressure while steaming as well as balance tube means to equalize the pressure in closed balanced pressure systems may be used. By sizing the parts, it is possible to generate steam pressure to assist in dumping the tank and rapidly purge the entire iron. With substantially the same structural means a separate control is provided to operate on the dump valve control to pulse it or momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through the soleplate without emptying the tank and the same means may also be used to control the flow of water to the steam generator to covert the iron into a dry iron. Thus, the main object of the invention is to provide a self-cleaning steam iron which rapidly dumps the water tank is a quick action to completely purge the iron and also uses the same structure to provide momentary surges of steam by a separate control or to completely close off steam generation for dry ironing whereby the iron is multifunctional with common structure performing several functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section and broken away, showing a spray iron with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective enlarged to show the interconnecting common structure for valve dumping and extra surge of steam;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the quick-release mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 and,

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3 showing the release mechanism in a stage of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It should be understood that the invention is applicable to flooded boiler steam irons like U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,054, teakettle boiler types like U.S. Pat. No. 2,810,218, both of common assignment, or the more common flash boiler type described herein with or without a manual or power spray attachment. The present invention is an improvement on that disclosed in application Ser. No. 187,0[0 filed Oct. 6, I971 of common assignment and which is directed to the selfcleaning feature per se. To that iron, the present invention adds an additional extra surge of steam feature using generally common structure to provide a multifunction iron. Referring first to FIG. I, there is shown a steam iron with soleplate having plural steam ports 12 and outer shell 14 connected in any suitable manner to handle 36 all in known fashion. Soleplate 10 may be cast aluminum with an electrical heating element 18 cast in position. The heating element is generally of the sheath type and extends in a loop beginning at the rear of the iron along one side to the forward end and then rearwardly along the other side. Thus, substantially uniform heat distribution is provided to the soleplate.

The iron includes means for generating steam by providing interior water tank 20 which may have a conventional vertical suitably shaped riser tube means 22 in the forward portion for housing various operating mechanisms. For steam, soleplate has a steam generator cavity or boiler 24 to receive metered water. The water and steam is started and stopped or controlled by steam control means including water valve structure generally indicated at 26 and activated by suitable means such as steam knob 28 and a connected and spring-biased common connector 30. Water is metered from tank through orifice 32 into boiler 24, the resulting steam being distributed and directed through passages 34 under coverplate 36 and out ports 12 onto the fabric being ironed. A manual spray attachment 38 of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,611, if used, may be operated by control 40. Temperature control 42 operates to thermostatically control the heat generated in the soleplate. In order to supply water to the tank 20 for steam and/or spray, fill opening 44 communicates with the tank. When the iron is steaming with steam knob 28 in the up-for-steam position so that water is metered to boiler 24, in this particular iron, the system is closed to ambient by valve 46 on the water valve structure 26 sealing the inlet passage to the tank. In such a system closed to ambient, in order for the water in tank 20 to drip into boiler 24, it is necessary to equalize pressure in the generating portion of the soleplate or boiler 24 and the interior of water tank 20 and it is customary to provide a pressure balancing tube 47 to connect the interior of the water tank with the steam boiler 24 ensuring that pressure on both sides of water valve 26 is equal so water will drip at a constant rate for steam generation. To build up pressure before steaming occurs and then. maintaining a constant upstream pressure before steam enters passages 34, suitable known steam pressure valve means is provided whereby steam from boiler 24 may pass directly down into the soleplate when steam pressure operates the steam valve. Such valve structure as applied to'a power spray iron is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,757 of common assignment. In all such irons it is customary to drain the iron after operation by depressing button 28 to close the orifice 32 and open valve 46 to ambient and then to turn the iron nose down whereby the water drains out fill opening 44 and most of the water is removed from tank 20. I

In accordance with the invention as disclosed in application Ser. No. 187,010 supra, this draining operation is now unnecessary and the iron is completely selfcleaning. As described and claimed in said application, this is achieved by providing the bottom of tank 20 with a substantially large opening 48 that is spaced and separate from the usual metering orifice 32. Any suitable equivalent form of large opening may be used that is the functional equivalent of opening 48 and that empties or dumps the tank rapidly when opened. The opening is thus defined as substantially large and spaced and separate and this is intended to include any other unrestricted flow opening that bypasses the metering orifice and quickly opens the tank to dump it. Preferably this is in the form of a separate and distinctly spaced bottom opening 48 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, in effect, this is a plugged hole in the bottom of water tank 20 to rapidly dump the tank. In order to obtain additional useful effects from the rapid emptying, the opening 48 is disposed to communicate directly with the inner surface of soleplate l0 and this is achieved by a directing shroud 50 that passes through opening 52 in coverplate 36 that connects the openings. The large opening thus communicates directly with the soleplate by being brought down by shroud 50 close to but spaced from the inner surface of soleplate 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In the iron of FIG. 1, spray control button 40 is connected to operate a manual diaphragm pump generally indicated at 54 and of the type shown in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,611 patent and also in the FIG. 3 modification of the above-referenced application Ser. No. 187,010. The invention is equally applicable to a power spray iron of the type shown in FIG. 1 of said co-pending application. Dumping of the water from tank 20 is under control of a piston-like dump valve means generally indicated at 56 that operates in the shroud and opens or closes opening 52 with the valve being biased to the up or closed position by spring 58, the valve being shown closed in FIG. 1. The dumped water passes through opening 48 and through the valve as explained in said co-pending application permitting the water in tank 20 to bypass the orifice 32 and immediately dump onto the hot soleplate and flow as steam and/or water into passages 34 and out ports 12. In order to provide a powerful purging action, the location and orientation of the water dump is important. To achieve this purging, the coverplate opening 52 is disposed directly above thehottest part of the soleplate adjacent heater element 18. While not required, this location is preferable because it provides a large quantity' of flash steam with subsequent benefits as will become apparent. By directing the shroud 50 down toward the inner surface of soleplate 10, the dumped water from tank 20 must escape below the shroud in order to reach ports 12 and exit from the iron. Because of the small clearance the water is impeded in spreading and escaping under the shroud. At the same time, a large quantity of steam is generated. In the manual spray form shown in FIG. 1, the shroud is spaced from the coverplate slightly to provide an annulus 60 for the normal passage of steam from generator 24 to passages 34 and out ports 12. When the dump valve 56 is activated, the metering orifice 32 is substantially bypassed and the water tank 20 is completely dumped immediately onto the hot soleplate where a large quantity of steam is quickly generated and the mixture of water and steam passing under the shroud and into the steam path tends briefly to impede the normal flow of steam through annulus 60 and to ports 12, the impeding means thus consisting at least partly of the dumping water. Also, some of the suddenly generated steam blocks and passes through annulus 60 and back into the iron to momentarily increase the pressure on the surface of the water in the tank interior via the balance tube and assist in dumping the tank. As a result, the iron is completely and forcefully purged of all steam and water. In the event the pressure build-up is too rapid any suitable safety valve or vent, such as shown dotted at 62, may be provided if necessary although the parts may be sized generally to avoid the need for an extra vent.

In order to activate the already present dump valve 56 in a different manner and provide an additional function to the iron, there is provided a manual dump button 64 which, to avoid inadvertent dumping, is spaced from steam knob 28 and may be conveniently disposed on the side of the handle as shown in FIG. 4 of said 010 copending application and as seen in FIG. 2 herein. This dump button is operable on or connected to the dump valve 56 by an interrupted stem dump valve means such as a stem of multiple sections that are substantially vertically aligned and longitudinally spaced from one another for sequential operation. Referring to FIG. 1, the stem comprises a first section that includes common connector 30 and which is rotatably inserted both in steam knob 28 at one end and in the upper portion of water valve structure 26 at the other end as clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first section 30 is a common connection as will become apparent. There is also provided a spaced midsection stem 66 and a third section stem 68 which latter is connected to and forms part of dump valve 56. Each of these sections 30, 66, and 68 are longitudinally spaced with gaps or interruptions therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. Each section is upwardly biased by suitable springs so that the sections can be sequentially operated. Thus, in order for dump button 64 to operate its valve 56, a separate connection 70 is provided as seen in FIG. 2 between the dump button means 64 and the stem mid-section 66 so that sliding the button 64 downwardly independently contacts section 66 which then sequentially contacts section 68 to open valve 56 and dump the tank to rapidly purge the iron as previously explained.

Generally the dumping operation for self-cleaning is similar to that disclosed in said Ol0 co-pending application supra with some additional internal structure to render the iron more useful by using common structure to provide other or multiple functions. As so far described, the iron is self-cleaning by actuation of dump button 64 and subsequent rapid emptying of tank 20 for a pressurized purge of steam and water to clean the iron.

In order to provide a sudden extra volume or, surge of steam, the present invention makes use of the dumping structure. Providing means whereby the dump valve may be intermittently or momentarily pulsed, it will be apparent that a quantity of water may be suddenly dumped on the soleplate for generation of extra steam. The pulsing is preferably a rapid action to permit a quantity of water to bypass the orifice 32 but not enough to empty the tank or purge the iron. To this end, the steam knob 28 is interconnected with the dump valve structure 56 through the first section or common connector 30 by any suitable means such as that shown in FIGS. 2 4. In the particular embodiment shown, connector 30 may be bent into the shape shown so that it is common to both the mid-section stem 66 as well as the on/offwater valve structure 26 as shown and thus contacts and operates the stem valve means at the interruption between 30 and 66. For a purpose to be explained, it is desirable that steam knob 28 and its common connector 30 not actuate water valve structure 26 immediately when pushed. This is achieved by including a suitable lost-motion linkage 72 connection to water valve 26 and which consists of merely allowing a space in the stem of water valve 26 so that connector 30 must bottom before it actuates valve 26 to close orifice 32 and convert the iron to a dry iron. In the first part of the travel of steam knob 28 or when it is initially depressed, it is desired to provide a pulsing action to the dump valve and, to this end, common connector 30 includes a suitable quick-release means generally indicated at 74 and located between stem 66 and steam knob 28 whereby stem 66 may be momentarily pulsed and then automatically released. As shown, connector 30 may conveniently rest in a niche 76 in stem 66 and is biased there by spring 78 attached to fixed bracket 80. Bracket 80 has a cam surface 82 adjacent niche 76 and designed to force connector 30 to the right as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When button 28 is depressed connector 30 forces stem 66 downwardly by contacting niche 76 as seen in FIG. 4. At the same time, connector 30 is being forced to the right by cam surface 82 so that it slides off of the niche after having forced stem 66 downwardly momentarily. Dump valve 56 is thereby momentarily pulsed and then automatically returned by spring action to its closed position. Even if valve 56 is actuated by merely pulsing ones finger on knob 28, the spring bias automatically closes the dump valve and the term automatic is intended to cover such operation. However, a quick-release mechanism like 74 is preferred since it is more consistent. Connector 30 freely moves along the cam surface by its rotatable connection in steam knob 28 and water valve structure 26.

Thus, initial actuation of steam knob 28 pulses dump valve 56 to discharge a spurt of water resulting in a surge of steam momentarily, after which the quickrelease mechanism 74 acts on connector 30 to release stem 66 and dump valve 56 snaps closed under action of spring 58 without emptying the tank. While the pulsing is rapid, again the balancing of generated steam pressure on the tank interior via the balance tube assists in the discharge of the water. The identical structure giving the momentary surge of steam is also used to convert the iron to a dry iron as previously noted by just continuing pushing on steam button 28 to its lowermost position wherein bottoming of connector 30 in lost-motion linkage 72 actuates water valve structure 26 to close orifice 32 for dry ironing. At this point, the steam knob 28 locks in the handle by usual step portion 84. These multiple functions of pulsing, dumping, and conversion to dry ironing are obtained by connector 30 being common to and connecting steam knob 28 to both stem 66 to actuate the dump valve and to the on-off water valve structure 26 while also arranging for dump button 64 to independently operate stem 66.

In order to be sure that the dump valve 56 is positively closed when not operating, it has been found expedient to provide a transverse offset between the midsection 66 and third section 68 and connect the sections by a deformable member 86 for proper calibration. By providing the small clearance between sections 66 and 68, the iron is set or calibrated for dumping by pushing button 64 and dump valve 56 down to open and then slightly beyond to bend the deformable member 86. Then, when dump button 64 is released, a small clearance is provided due to the deformity and the dump valve 56 always closes to seal opening 48.

With common structure to provide dump operation and complete purging of the iron for self-cleaning, it will be seen that actuation of dump button 64 through its separate connection 70 to mid-section stem 66 provides independent operation of the dump valve to provide the self-cleaning iron. Separately therefrom, the usual common steam knob 28 acts through the interconnecting lost motion linkage 72 between the knob 28 and water valve structure 26 to permit steaming. This structure also acts in conjunction with the quick release mechanism 74 located between the stem 66 and the steam knob 28. Thus, with such common structure it is possible to obtain many desirable functions. It is possible to momentarily pulse dump valve 56 through the first portion of movement of knob 28 so that each movement of knob 28 separately provides a pulse and sudden surge of steam through the soleplate. On further actuation of steam knob 28, the lost-motion connection permits connector 30 to bottom in the water valve structure 26 and shut orifice 32 to convert the iron to a dry iron. Thus, the combination provides for common structure within the iron to perform multiple functions of self-cleaning, steaming, surge of steam, or dry ironing.

While there has been described a preferred form of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.

I claim:

1. In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising,

a substantially large opening in said tank communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate,

dump means operable to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports and,

separate means connected to operate on said dump means to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said dump means to open and close saidopening is operable by manual means disposed on the iron handle, and

said separate means operable on said dump means is operable separately from said manual means.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is in the bottom of said tank and is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and,

a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion of the soleplate with the interior ofsaid tank.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on opening of said dump means whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying and said discharging of said water.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said im- 5 peding means consists at least partly of the water through said dump means.

7. In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, steam control means including an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising,

a substantially large opening in the bottom of said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, .said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate,

an interrupted stem dump valve means operable from said handle to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports, and

separate means on said handle connected to contact and operate said stem valve means at said interruption to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein the stem for said dump valve is biased and composed of multiple sections,

dump button means on said handle operable on said stem to open the dump valve and empty said tank,

a separate steam knob means on said handle,

a quick release means connected between a stem section and said steam knob for said knob to independently actuate said dump valve in pulses to provide said surge of steam.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said multiple sections are substantially vertically aligned and longitudinally spaced from one another,

spring means biasing each section upwardly, and

common means connecting said steam knob to both said stem valve means and to said on-off water valve.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said common means includes a lost motion connection to said on-off water valve,

whereby said steam knob pulses said dump valve and, upon further actuation, then actuates the water valve to close said orifice for dry ironing.

11. In a balanced pressure steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, separate steam knob means to an on-off water valve to control a metered 0 flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam 5 therethrough comprising,

a substantially large opening in the tank bottom spaced and separate from the orifice and communicating directly with the soleplate inner surface,

a dump valve in said opening connected by a vertical multiple-section stem to dump button means on said handle spaced from said steam knob means, said sections being longitudinally spaced and upwardly biased for sequential connection on operation of said button means to dump said tank through the opening and rapidly purge said iron through the ports,

a common means connecting said steam knob means to both the stem and on-off water valve and including a lost-motion linkage connecting to the water valve,

whereby said separate steam knob means first pulses said dump valve and, on further actuation, closes said orifice for dry ironing.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said multiple section stem includes three longitudinallyspaced sections each biased upwardly,

the first section connected to said steam knob means,

the third connected to said dump valve,

and the midsection disposed between and spaced ill from the other sections for sequential downward operation of said sections on actuation of said steam knob means, and

a separate connection between said dump button means and stem midsection for independent operation of said dump valve.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein the common means includes,

a quick-release means between said stem and steam knob means whereby said separate steam knob means actuates the dump valve in pulses to provide a surge of steam and,

the valve is also independently actuable by said dump button means to dump the tank.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein each section is separately biased and the mid and third sections are transversely offset and connected by a deformable member to provide a calibration clearance between said sections. 

1. In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, dump means operable to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports and, separate means connected to operate on said dump means to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said dump means to open and close said opening is operable by manual means disposed on the iron handle, and said separate means operable on said dump means is operable separately from said manual means.
 3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is in the bottom of said tank and is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.
 4. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and, a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion of the soleplate with the interior of said tank.
 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on opening of said dump means whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying and said discharging of said water.
 6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said impeding means consists at least partly of the water through said dump means.
 7. In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, steam control means including an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in the bottom of said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, an interrupted stem dump valve means operable from said handle to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports, and separate means on said handle connected to contact and operate said stem valve means at said interruption to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.
 8. Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein the stem for said dump valve is biased and composed of multiple sections, dump button means on said handle operable on said stem to open the dump valve and empty said tank, a separate steam knob means on said handle, a quick release means connected between a stem section and said steam knob for said knob to independently actuate said dump valve in pulses to provide said surge of steam.
 9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said multiple sections are substantially vertically aligned and longitudinally spaced from one another, spring means biasing each section upwardly, and common means connecting said steam knob to both said stem valve means and to said on-off water valve.
 10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said common means includes a lost motion connection to said on-off water valve, whereby said steam knob pulses said dump valve and, upon further actuation, then actuates the water valve to close said orifice for dry ironing.
 11. In a balanced pressure steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, separate steam knob means to an on-off water valve to control a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam therethrough comprising, a substantially large opening in the tank bottom spaced and separate from the orifice and communicating directly with the soleplate inner surface, a dump valve in said opening connected by a vertical multiple-section stem to dump button means on said handle spaced from saiD steam knob means, said sections being longitudinally spaced and upwardly biased for sequential connection on operation of said button means to dump said tank through the opening and rapidly purge said iron through the ports, a common means connecting said steam knob means to both the stem and on-off water valve and including a lost-motion linkage connecting to the water valve, whereby said separate steam knob means first pulses said dump valve and, on further actuation, closes said orifice for dry ironing.
 12. Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said multiple section stem includes three longitudinally-spaced sections each biased upwardly, the first section connected to said steam knob means, the third connected to said dump valve, and the mid-section disposed between and spaced from the other sections for sequential downward operation of said sections on actuation of said steam knob means, and a separate connection between said dump button means and stem midsection for independent operation of said dump valve.
 13. Apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein the common means includes, a quick-release means between said stem and steam knob means whereby said separate steam knob means actuates the dump valve in pulses to provide a surge of steam and, the valve is also independently actuable by said dump button means to dump the tank.
 14. Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein each section is separately biased and the mid and third sections are transversely offset and connected by a deformable member to provide a calibration clearance between said sections. 